Dulma Altan

TikTok Creator and Entrepreneur

Dulma Altan is a Venture Partner at Republic, an investment platform focused on early-stage startups. She has been in this role since August 2021, where she contributes her expertise in venture capital and startup growth strategies. Altan is also known for her presence on TikTok, where she shares insights on direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands and entrepreneurship, creating what she refers to as a "TikTok B-school for women" to empower female entrepreneurs.1 2

Professional Background

Education: Dulma graduated from Brown University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies. She also studied Business & Entrepreneurship at Université de Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne.2
Career Path:
- Founder & CEO of Makelane: Since April 2019, she has been leading this initiative aimed at supporting female DTC founders by providing resources and community.2
- Founder of Potion: From November 2017 to March 2020, she operated an online natural fragrance store, which she eventually closed due to scalability challenges.1 2
- Head of Growth at Crowdcast.io: She worked in this role from September 2016 to April 2017, focusing on marketing and customer success strategies.2
- Associate Account Strategist at Google: Altan contributed to small and medium enterprise clients from March to December 2015.2

TikTok Influence

Dulma has gained significant traction on TikTok, where she discusses various topics related to venture capital and DTC brands, amassing over 47,000 followers and 1.3 million likes on her videos. Her content often includes practical advice for entrepreneurs, particularly women, and critiques of popular brands, making her a notable figure in the intersection of social media and business.1 2

Personal Insights

Through her work and social media presence, Dulma emphasizes the importance of understanding the complexities of raising capital and the operational challenges faced by startups. She advocates for due diligence in the investment process and shares lessons learned from her entrepreneurial experiences.1 2

Highlights

Mar 3 · retailbrew.com

This TikToker is delving into what makes DTC CPG businesses tick

Sep 9 · republic.com

Republic 3.0: VP6s Leveling Up the Venture Partner Program

Aug 16 · The San Diego Union-Tribune

Why the pitch contest is still a formidable rite of passage - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Jul 21 · Business Insider

Startup founders throw 'business showers,' receive cash, gifts - Business Insider

Experience

TikTok Creator (@iamdulma) at Self-employed (October 2021 - Present)

Venture Partner at Republic (August 2021 - Present); Founder & CEO at Makelane (April 2019 - Present)

Education

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Development Studies from Brown University (2010 - 2014); Business & Entrepreneurship in France from Université de Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne (2012 - 2013)